Apparatus eos



Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,449

' s. s. WHEELER APPARATUS FOR INDICATYING AND EXPEDITING WORK Filed Oct, 21 1920 '7 Sheets-Sheet l iR g Inventor,

,M Schujer S. Wheeler,

Jan. 22, 1924.. 1,481,449

S. S. WHEEL-ERl APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND EXPEDITING WORK Inventor, h SC-huyll" S er;

" Attorney Jan. '22 "1924.

1,481,449 s. s. WHEELER l APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND EXPEDITING WORK 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ih ven tor,

S. VVheeleI l a l Auorney.

Schuyler' 'By Filed Oct; 21

Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,449

s. s. WHEELER`` APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND EXPEDITING WORK Filed Oct. 21 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig', 1o,` Pag. 11

, .,252- Iggy-1G31,

Tn Veritor, Schuyler S. W'h-eeler,

) l863|? 20 pcs CX 60 220v stre 30H? 1924. 1,481,449 S. S. WHEELER APPARATUS FOR INDIYCATING AND EXPEDITING WORK Akkorney 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor,

Schuyler VVIxeeleT,

Filed Qct. 21 1920` Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,449

. S. S. WHEELER APPARATUS FOP(A INDICATING AND EXPEDITINGWORK Filed Oct. 2l 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Pgzf). F15/.30. Fgl. Bg. Eg34- g. 35.

` SSQ" Fig. 535, 'Fig-31 Bg, 38,

Inven E01,

Schuylerv S- Wheeler,

|05 lo, '04% w3 Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,449

. S. S. WHEELER APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND EXPEDITINGWORK Filed OCT'. 2l 1920 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Y Inventor,

I QL Schu er ,S Wheeler', 27, By

A t korn @y.

Clt

Patented dan. 22, i924.

sonUYLEn s. WEEELEE, or EEaniiEnsviLLE, ivEw JERSEY, .assienon rro enseignayWKinerase censeur, E nii/innen, NEW JERSEY, 'a conronarioiv 0E NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR NDICATING AND EKPEDTING WORK.

Application filed October 21, 1920. Serial No. 418,602.

To all whom 'it may concern.' i n Be it known that i, Sorrnvnnn S. iVi-innLEn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bernardsvilie, county ot Somerset, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for indicating and' Enpediting Vioric, of which A the following,` is a speciiication.

in its preferred adaptation the invention relates to a system or means for the control of production and material in a factory, oror the control of goods purchased and sold by merchants or otherwise, although it is capaole ot all possible uses'where there is a rlong` series of subject matters to be recorded and followed up.y and where related facts as to each subject matter are noted ior subsequent information. Theinvention he adapted tor recording statistical intorinaiton, for example.

Type-written lists, card index systems and all kinds of charts have be n used with a view to suoli control. A typewritten list has the iatal objection that it mustbe altered by erasure and addition, soon becoming -illegggible, and filled with dead wood,7 while a. cai-d index systei'n or catalogue has the objection thatone cannot see at a glance approximately the total number, or the nurnbers one class, and that after a largenumlier oi cards 23e withdrawn iiomv each drawer, the remainder must be transferred by hand from one drawer to the next ink order to close up. Charts are aboutequally ohjectionabie, inasmuch as, while a chart may pari/,ally sutlice for a small concern, it can in. no reasonable measure uliill the needs oit a large-concern, even though the chart may he colored up at different' points to in dic-ate certain facts. Even then it is generally necessary to malte use of a plurality of charts. elliot these ineans have the objection that nientai concentration is required for reading theni-reducingg,` the energy lett `vailable for action after reading. in all these forms of lists energy is also lost iny searching to piclr out from the whole the items wanted, and omitting, while reading,

hose lportions of information about the articles in question that are immaterial to the search in hand. Under the presentinaeiition, a number oi subject lists are absti-acted hy experts from day to day, and

ive each Vday di'iring the month.

these embrace only the articles involved 4and are limited purposely to the dataout ot the'k whole concerning each article that apperta'in to the work for. which thesubject, list is drawn off. Each subject list is therefore clean and neat, and' Vdoes not require any words or igures to be read bythe worker that are not necessary to his work.

Nothing is more destructive to thoroughness, exactness and promptne'ss in employees than scratched lists, except possibly, long lists. If asingle item is scratched it leaves.

the employee to doubt whether some other item which is included should nothave been scratched also, and if he is given a list which Vis largely scratched' and added to, one is calling on him to search through the rubbish; 'for the live matter. It is practically impossible for an employee to abstract accurately from a. very long list, if it has to be done l current motors being produced by an elec trical plant, which perhaps might amount to 10% of the total of perhaps 3,000 items. It would take several hours. and very like-ly one or two would be overlooked. YAssume that several thousand workers are engaged in the productive end of ainanutacturiiig plant, and it will be seen that thetaslrot keeping` the record abreast ot the actual work presents a considerable problem which may he largely solved by breaking .the tasir up into sections byy way otsystemizing it. f

W'ith a .vieivito overcoming the objections due to the systems referred to, one of the ob]ects or the present invention is to provide a living .job list which may be located in al room by :itself and comprises a method. and apparatus for keeping track of Jobs and hurrying' them Aup by number oi means,

New jobs areadded, closedjobs taken 'oit and numerous 'facts about 1)i'ofrress -suc-l as the arrival of materiaL-are registered by the attendant as soon as reported, as by telephone, from the -several departments. The list is, therefore, not only kept up to date. but up to the hour. It is designed particularly to render easy the preparation of various detailed lists for the use of the shop and purchasing department of a factory, for instance.

The general objects may be summed up about as follows:

To provide simple means of furnishing working departments with lists of shop orders, to guide those concerned and show whether any orders are falling behind.

To afford a view at aglance of the total number of orders and of they situation with respect thereto.V

To give the ininutest details when needed respecting a single rder kor of 'a few orders, or a more general report of the entire lot. y f

To provide a filing or recording system in which spaces made blankby nishing and withdrawal close up automatically, so that a solid list is always presented, while ythe individuals retain their relative positions.

To show the whole at a glance, or details as may be needed, of those thatare not yet ready for the shop on account of absence of material, those that are already in the shop, those that have beenY in the shop longer than the time allowed for their completion, and those that have been finished by the shop, but not yet finished in the bookkeeping.

Tov make wide distinctions between ones that are in diiferent status, such as by havingptheir indicia in opposite vdirections for easy vision of such groups, and for the convenience of different sets of clerks specializ` ing on different parts of the clerical work, while allowing each item to retain its position in numerical order. This gives the effect of having two or three entirely separate and distinct lists in which the items may readily be redesign-ated from one to the other, and which, nevertheless, remain all one list. f

To provide a central record, always correctV up to the hour, to which the different branches of the business may report, and

which is `neatly corrected as necessary.

To show the rate of progression of orders from the date of beginning to their completion.`

To show'the age in weeks of each order,-

and of each different portion ofthe total list, and of the quantities of each portion, and the total quantity. f Y

To provide. mea-ns of constantly advancing the records of age and keeping records of the progress of the work on each order, so Vthat every subject list taken from time to time, rect in each of its items to within the hour.

covering different groups, shall be cor- To provide a quick and instantaneous means of connnunication by telephone from any of the desks of different departments to all portions of the apparatus, and vice versa.

As before stated, this invention may be applicable to the use of merchants or others, in which case, possibly some of all of the above objects named which are specially applicable to factories might not be applicable.

These being among the objects of the present invention, the saine Vconsists of certain method steps, features ofconstruction andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a, preferred 0r desirable embodiment of the invention, and in which` l Fig.l l is a perspective view the apparatus or system;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus, the tackle or harness-as it will be termed hereinbeing omitted, such portion corresponding substantially to what is illustrated in Fig. l in perspective;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the other end of the apparatus similarly illustrated, the entire apparatus, with the exception of the harness, being seen by combining' Figs@ and 3 end for end;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the complet-e apparatus showing deflected groups of markers or indicators;

Figs. '5 and 6 are, respectively, edge and face elevations of a trolley;

Figs. and 8 are, respectively, edge and face elevations of a label-holder;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a numeral trolley;

Figs. l0 and ll are, respectively, edge and face elevations of a date trolley;

Figs. l2 to 27 inclusive illustrate different shapes of rank and charactermarkers or indicators; f Y

F ig. 28 is an eleva-tion showing the progress tape broken in two se tions for convenience of illustration, the middle i'iortionbe ing repeated., with its slider;

Figs. 29 to 32 inclusive illustrate speed experience'indicators or blocks;

Figs. S3, 34C and illustrate delay links or indicators; c

Figs. 86, 827' and 3S illustrate links or indicators;

F S9 to l inclusive illustrate various forms of chaser beads in perspective;

l5 to 49 inclusive illustrate various forms of urgency signa-ls in perspective, and

Fig. 50 is a perspective view of a detail of a rail.

The invention will be described as if it vere applied only to afactory for electrical machines, although it may be otherwise ape plied. `When applied to a factory the mechof a portion of purchasing shop delay lili) resine@ anisni ot' the present invention is preferahh/ located in the job rooin.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a wire or rail or other linear support is suspended in the rooin as an aerial line. The said wire 50, or the like, foi'ins a single track, and it is stretched across the roorn so that it will incline vdownwardly iii-oni one end. The higher end of the wire 50 niay be attached to the wall 51 by means ci a tieiuolt 52, which passes through said wall and is provided with-a tightening nut 53 at the outer side of the wall, although instead olt a wall.l Sonie other forni ot support tor the l'iigher end of said wire ina;7 he employed. )ls shown in Fig. 3, the Vlower end oil the wire 50is secured to a post orv upright 511,V oi suilioient strength to withstand the tension placed upon the wire. Between the post 51d and the Opposite wall ofthe rooni su'liicient space is lett for a passage .around that end of the apparatus. lnasninch as the wire 5() is preiierahlj.' inclined, and it inust he accessible to the help who attend to the apparatus, steps 55 are provided upon that end olf' the floor which is located under the higher end portion of the wire or track 50, These steps 'torni passagcnv'ays at each side oi the apparatus.

Leaving VFigs. 1 to 4r for the present,` the description will apply to the remaining iig;H ures which `show the preferred various coinponents of the groups strings of markers or indicators which go to nialie up the harness.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a trolley 57 is illustrated, which is preferably composed of a strip of metal bent up into hook torni, and provided with grooved roller 58 at .its upper end, and a snap fasteningh or hoolr 59 et its lower end. r he nietal strip of which the trolleyT is composed is indicated by llic neral (50. rt the lientv upper end oii the lley 57 there is applied a head or cap 31 ot' sheet niei'al, having square aces. Thi-se trolleys are placed as desired on the line track 50, and are each ot the saine dimension between thc'faces or' the header cap which may he designated a spacer he 'there mayv he several thousand Oi these trolleys placed upon the inclined rail or Lracli 50, and the rollers enable the trolleys to roll easily down thel line.

lach snap hool: 59* is adapted to support a label-holder G2', which is prefere-.lily ah' ut eight inches long, to receire a. single strip G22* or typewritten matter, which Vwill he referred to hereinafter. Label-holder 62 preferably composed ol sheet-instal hentfup so as to `provide inturned longitudinal edge portions 63'433, which provide a guide 'for tlletypewritten strip 62a. The upper and loyer ends oit the ylahel-holder 62 are provided with eyes or holes (Si, 54a, respectively. The snap-hook 59 of each trolley is engaged vwith the eye @ai of label-holder G2, so that forming a rectangular ohlong,- for the blind.'

ln Figs. 13, 1T, 2flyand the cross section is the saine for all, that is, it is triangular;

Similarly, as to Figures le, 15,22V and 26,

in which the shape rectangular, and in Figs. 15. 1%, 225 and 27. in which the shape is circular. These respective shapes may indicate rawproducts, detail parts, large parts and finished motors.v The saine 'facts may also be indicated by color `for the sighted, that is to say, the indicators in Figs. 12, 16, 2O and inauiT he white, the indicators in Figs. 1B, 1T, 21 and 25 may be blue, the indicators in 11, 18, 22 and 2G 4may he yellow, and the indicators in rips. 15, 19, 23 and 27 may he red. Furthermore, the in'- dicators shown in Figs. 12 to 27 may be or" diiierent shapes long gudinally. caters shown in Figs. 12, 13, 111 and 15 may have threesquarters of their lengthreduced, leaving a larger crossV section at "the upper ends. Similarly, the indicators shown in Figs, 16, 17, 18 and 1.9 may he reducedvl'or onehalrpv oi'izheir length,y those shown in Figs. 20, 21, 22 and inap' he reduced for onequarter of their length, while the indicators shown in F 2/1, 25, 26 27 are not reduced at. alhhut are ot' the saine `cross section throughout its length. Trie reason for the longitudinal formation of the indicators shown in Figs. 12 l'o 27 is to provide means for indicating how inuch material is to loe purchased. For'instance', the indicators 1G,

Y 17, 18 and 19 which are reduced transversely for onehaliiv ot their lengths willindicate that one-half of all the material required for the joh ias to he purchased.

As the indicators just described. are different in all the figures mentioned, the7 are given the reference numerals 65 to 82, running in sequence. 65 to 82 has wires running 'longitudinally therethrough and clenched thereupon, Jthese wires providing, for each indicator, hooks.

66 and 6'? at theupner and lower ends respectively. l-lool; 66 is adapted to be engaged with eye 64: of the label-holder shown inl figs 'i' 8. The bodies ot these in- 1 Lil caoors are preferably one inch in length. rl. tape or vstrip 83 is shown in F 28. rllhis is a narrow tape, preferably -fifteen inches in length. and is provided at regular f intervals throughout its length with niarkings 84e, and the tape is provided Vat its upper end with a ring or a similar ring 85a at its lower end.

The

Each ol' the indicators The indii eye 85, and with fin Figs. 36, 37 end 38. rlhese With hoel-r 0', shown in l* 12 to 24 Arranged upon the tiri? egress eff ldie particular job represented. le l? 29 to 32 inclusive, speedexperic e indicators or blocks are illustrated.

the time which it eincct perform the Werl; according t experience in the plant.-l

pe The in-V czitor 9 W in ig', 29 is, ssj yone inch is provided with a' Wire enrh. and formed et its .ioolr S9, and et its lower y 0. The hook 89 is adapted kf with the eye et the nrogress-tpe shown in ig. 28; The speedeperience-i icstors or blocks 91 and 92 i ewn in 30, 31 and 32, ere longer eescribed. the one shown 1n 32 being, say, two inches in t trie one shown in lug. 31 is All of these indi- ,fenr inches in length.

cinors have similsr hoek end eye to 89, 90.

Tlc indicators shown in Figs. 30, 31 and are provided with e lateral j,/'-pre}ectin,e;

stud or abutment 93, on each ot which :naiv 1 depsrtnient-ring` 9d te in'licste the department. There may be e' greet many department rings of different materials, ",ngths, thicknesses and color to indicate l t departments. n

lil/Vith the eji'el 90 of any one of the indicators shown in F 29 teV 32 may be en- Us eed any one of the series or links'oriinf-.icstors shown in Figs. 33, 34 and 35, er may be termed deler/elinks er indicators, and represent enjf delay in Weeks in getting' in the materie-.l to be used. fer exemple. For instence, link is s single link end indicates ene Weexs delay. rlfhere are two links 96 own in 3.4i, and teur linls 9.7 in indicating. respectivelyn e delsj;7 oli tWoWcelrs four Weeks. The links shfwrn in Figs; 33. 34e-.nd preferably .heavier thsnthese in Figs, 36,l and 38, end are cnt across te facilitate their engeinent With the engsgii mer-.ns with which the;7 are to be enseed.v 'Vlhejf7 are eierebly cnt at the ends7 and preferebl;v iresent pnrchssing-deley-linlrs to indicate llay in getting" in materiel `inirchesed. The lin-lts 99 end 100 shewn in lend 38 are preferably lighter 4Vl other linksV or and 'l indicetors'shotvn in ere preferably7 open the side so es to facilitate their engagement withv said .links shown in "'-ue ire preferably oil say, one inch. rlhe 95, 98, and ci" the r9.. 100 may loe enends et elf links 90, 9 5r With the effe 90 of one of the eX- jeerieiicedinks or indicators shown in Figs.

f et suiiicient size it is desirineens for indicating en Yee wl' e has :hereje et one particular To that end beads or indiin Figs. 99 to le may he Y being dinerent shape of indicarmi tor ie blind for erich 'i 101 shewn cn'iplcyed, the lies d or Chaser.

T ie head or indicator inegi'v be of egg-shape, with a Wire ng lengritndinally therethrough, and A Id at its upper end With e hoolr 1027 and etA its lower end with en eye 103.

seed er indicator 104 is shown in ator 105 is shown. ln Fig. e bead or ic tor 1.20 is shown, which iney be f bead 101, although of eine shape. head or indicator 107 is shown, While in s similarlyv shaped bead or indi- 108 is shown, hut it is larger than the bead 107. All ot these bends or indicaters shown in Figs. 39 to 4A are equipped with means similar to what is shown in Fig. 39. The hook 102 may he engaged with one ci the links shown in 33 to 38 inclusive. The;v are et different colors for the sighted.

Vl-eterring to Figs. lf3 te L19 inclusive, there is shown e. series of pieces which .may be of snbste'ntisllj,vv the seine length, and colored, the color, if desired, being naturel Wood. red, blue, or other color to represent the. degree o` herr-y et the jeb.` For* instsnce. blue may indicate that the ich is gresterlnirry than the red, and red may indicete s greater hurry than plain er nstnrsl Wood color. rlhese ere celled nrncesignels. The signal-piece 109 shown in e5 is, ser, about two inches long of cylindrical shape. Throughout there ex@ tendse Wire which et its upper end is bent up into 'ehoolr 110. and et its lower end into an eye 111. The urgency-signals .112. 113 114e, 115 in the ether vfigures are performing as e unit a given'function` or or,indicsting e particular fact, are or ln Fig. f3 e spherical! lll) corresponding lengths, and where diii'erent lengths shown, they preferably constitute multiples such given unit ot length. l/Vith a series otl groups ot properly connected 1functioning means and indicators strung on the line 50 ot Figs. 1 to l inclusive, it is'possible tor anyone with sight or blind to quickly pick out and ascertain the :tact intended to be represented, not only by reason ot the colors,V but the shapes which are employed. A blind person may quickly pick out diilierent indicators and ascertain di `erent facts by reason ot different shapes which are employed, or by reason of there being multiples ot a cates time to inish.

The description will now apply to a fuller explanation of parts which have been heretotore mentioned. and to parts which have not been referred to, lt is to berepeated that the harness, which is suspended from the aerial or other line 50 of Figs. 1 to 4l inclusive, is composed oit heddles,y each heddie being in turn composed ot a trolley, and the parts betere mentioned. which are attached tol` and suspended by the trolley. rlhe label 62. Fig. 8, which is placed in the label-holder 62, is cut from the typew'ritten list, and gives all necessary particulars of.

the liob. There is hung on the label-holder the various markers or indicators of the remainder of the group forming the heddle, which markers accord with the information `given in the lahel'62a, so that it is no longer necessary to read the label to obtain the desired intormation as to what the label indicates. The information given on the label. shown in. 8, and the arrangement or which applies to the arrangement onthe other labels whi h are used,l is as follows:

.at e appears the job serial number,d tor example: 86319. At appears the in formation as tothe quantity calledtor in the job. 'tor instance: 2O pieces. At c appears the name ot the article and description; tor example-CX indicates the type ot an electrical starter for motors. for instance. 60o indicates the c vcle.r 220 V. the voltage, ,30 H. 1).. the horse power. At a7, apnea s the catalogue number.

ot the article vwhich is also the ledger page number of the stock accounts or the same, namely. 1195 2. fit c appear several lettersV and iigures which tell the quantity ot the article required to make one motor, the rank or manufacturing grade otthe article, and the length ot time in weeks in which it should be manufactured. At g (the end of the label) are figures indicating the department in which the article is manufactured and a letter indicating the name of the chaser whose duty it is to 'ollow this class of goods. All of .the symbols at d. e and f, thus indicate different facts or points relative to the descriptive matter appearing on given unit which indithe-label 62, and tangible or physical and, it desired. colored indicia are attached yto the label-holder to separately indicate the same facts or points. n

After each hundred jobs are l.hung `on the line 50, a special trolley-hook 116, without a label-holder 62, is hung on the line, the same being shown in Figi). Hook 116 can ries a frame 117 above it, b a card 11S may be inserted in it, said card Vshowing plainly7 the number ot the next ordenfor example, 55900, and as new or ders are. put on, when the end ofthe week is reached, `another special trolley-hook 121, Figs. 10 and 11, is put on. Special'trolleyhook 121 is provided with a similar frame or other means 122, tor receiving a card 123` on which appears `the date. Each special trolley-hook 116 and 121 may be constructed with an elongated shank 119 provided at its lower end with a weight 120 so as tocause the trolley to set automatically in a vertical position, as by a plumb-bob. The arrangement is similar to a line of billiard markers on their wire,1with their lnumbered markers at intervals. The ydate-trolleys 121` have a high 'frame 122 tof hold an additional card 123*L representingV the yage in weeksfV-the last one put Yon bearing the mark 0, and the one put on the week before,

the. mark 1, and so on. lt such additional cards are used, each of these age cards is y taken out ot its trame at the beginning of theweek and put in the frame next higher up on the line 50, so that in effect the cards representing` the ages remain stationary while the harnessconsisting ot all the job heddles kand all the dates g'i'raduallyl gravitates down the line, which may beat the rate of about fifteen feet per week.

All of the trolleys specifically described herein are faced on both sides with metal, as at 61a, 61, Figv. rPhe Jfacing is in the same direction as the line 50 extends so as to 'present a square thrust of one trolley against the other. The trolleys may each measure exactly three-eifrhths or an inch longitudinally with the line 50, so that a scale 124 serves to indicate at alltimes just how many order .thereare on the line from itsbottom upto vthe 'next order, also, how many there 'are trom the bottom up to any point, for example. te the point of age, 80; and date. August 15th. The scale 124 would be graduated with marks three-eighths of an inch apart, if that was the measurement of the distance between the abutting faces of a trolley. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the scale is marked on a base 125, which is here shown in the form ot a plank, which is ycoextensive in length. substantially, ywith the length of the line '50, and vis preferably placed 49 inches below the line and should be parallel to it. l be supported irl' any suitable manner upon Said basef125 would then frrooved so that f bars the cross-bars 127.

the floor 56 and would run over and be supported upon the steps 55. The line and base and all rails are preferably in a catenary.

Referring also to 'Fig 4 as Welles Figs.

1, 2 and 8, the stationary trarne ot the apparatus as it may be designated-cornH prises standards 126 risingfrom the door 5b, and at their upper ends supporting the crossbars 127, which are inclined 'upwardly from their innerends. These standards 126 and the crossbars 127 are located to the right side of the vertical plane looking from the low end in Which the heddles hang` normali suspended from the line 50. Connecting the cross-bars 127 are three parallel quisdistantly-spaced rods 128, 129 and 180, the said and the standards '126 constituting a stationary structure removable in sections. This structure is located to the rieht of the vertical plane ot the line 50, as viewed from its lowest end. At the lett-hand side ot the vertical plane ot the line 50 there is a series et standards 181 rising from the floor 56, their upper ends being connected by a rod 132. To the lett oi the. standards 131 are siinilar standards 133, the upper ends of which are connected by a rodA 184 parallel With the rod 182, and placed at a slightly higher elevation.

The three krods 128, 129 and 130 at the right may for convenience ber terinefl the han These are on the shop side. and said rails or rods lare for use in holding` the heddles in a osition sWunO slifrhtl sideivise D fr y of the vert-ical plane ot the line The heddles hang over these rods to facilitate dictating a subject list. The Vtivo rods or `ails 182,134 at the left may be designated the rail, and are on the despatch side of the line. The operator of the despatch side is 'charged with the duty of reporting to those (the chasers) who get in the material. All heddles representing orders-the material tor which is not in-hang permanently lover these tivo rails 13 134, and are not tree and accessible to the cleri; who .is listing Ytor the shop. Their labels also tace away i'roni the shop side. The label-holders 82 are unhooled troni the trolleys and turned around to face the Shop side and are then hooked on again When the material is'all in and the Job is what is called cleared to the shop.

The terrns harness heddle vand shed usedherein have been taken because the apparatus that seeins niost similar to this invention is the Weavers loom, and therefore, the Whole line is called a harness7 and each group or string,r of markers representan order a heddle, While the temporary separation of those that represent any pan ticular subject While lifted over the rail to separate them, is called a shed The harness and tht` heddles afford an opportunity toi' use of a remarkably Wide variety of inarrrers or indicators and other ineens of all sorts tor indicating different thin '1. ln the first place, there are the {iz-ed inarlrers which are put on at the heginning and simply represent tor easy vision the tacts stated in the label, These markers or indicators are preferably inade of pre cisely uniiorrn lengths, thai' is, the corre sponding markers, so that, with one creep. tion, the heddles are uniform length. The one exception is the niarlrer 88, 91. or 92 to show the lenuth et' tiine allowed for the manufacture, ivhich markers vary in length. Consequently, ineans ot interpretingthe varying total lengths ot the heddles in view the distance that each has travelled down the line 50 Will inalre very clear the ques tion or" which jobs are overdue, Whether their allowed time be one, tivo or four Weeks. Then, there are the inarl'ers ot date and nurnber in hundreds, which always retain their relative position travelling along,T the line 50 with the jobs, and which. therefore. give -information upon reading the stat-ionary scale 124.

Then, there are the markers toT in eitect remain stationary Ywhile the jobs travel along, and constantly give corrected age information.

rlhen, there are markers appropriate to be added as the orders progress, and others to be taken ott as the jobs progress, and the slider 86 on the tape 83 tor use in recordingY fluctuating conditions.

Then, special markers may be attached temporarily, niade ot different shapes and appearance, and others bearing the narneot an individual, Which mean that that article is under a special investifat-ion by that individual.

Then', there are the general means of distinguishing the Whole classes ot jobs by deilecting them singularly away troni thevertical plane ot the rail 50, as indicated in F Il. Those that are deflected over the two rods on the lett, serne at a small ann/le and some at a large angle, indicate that they are Waiting` for material troni the shop and 'for material trein. the outside,A respectively. lhosev deiected to the right temporarily over the three rods 128, 129, 130 at a sinall angle, at a rnediuin` angle and at a large angle, respectively, are those ot which a subject list is being prepa-red on that day, presumably by telephonie dictation, and the list itselic is being,r rnade in three parts, namely. plairu urgenh and imperative The use? oit a telephone has just been indicated as desirable. The telephone connecN tion, it' used, is a connnon Wire running the length of the line and around to the desk of each clerk in dierent departments who has duties connected With the shop, and it has spring-j acks located about ten feet alongI the length of the line 50, these jacks being fixed in posts 125a treni the base 125. A

r age. which 1 ,eem/ie separate push-button s vstein would be used for calling. with ak button and buzzeizend is run to each telephone so that any clerk in an;Y department Trentinel to know about soine "rder has enig7 to touch his or her button and litt the receiver, end the job clerk with e head telephone on will plug in at the jack rieures'` theparticnlar job and read ottq the information desired. li the job clerk Wants something iniestigwed by e particular departnient, said clerk rings thebuzzer in that depart-nient and the clerk thereof comes on and is esliced the information and gives the reply. This line is used by the clerks in "i 'lerent departments in reporting; every i'ieiv hours the obs for which the)7 have received material7 and which niav, therefore, be cleared. ete. The shop job clerh else uses ittor Vdictat-ing' to a'typist at a desk the job clerk plugging in atdifferent aeks as he or she has to Inove along; the lengt-h of the line for reading,

v the ineens herein described. the task of keeping the record abreast olf the actual Work is divided into the following, which .aire cuite vdist-inet from each other` so that each clerk specializes and thus sees the end ot' his devis Work:

lilaintaining the insister list g turning' shop orders to the shop side; picking out and swinging' aside those ot one subject; ceiling 'for the material :ind parts essentfal for inelV on in one subject. and typing a. list oi these The advantages oi, specialising is shown in the typing. which is e steady task5 elwavs requiring` the seine torni ot tabulation, iik-- ing' it a suiteble Work for a` blind tvpist. The preparation oi the ect lists is facilitsted by the described devices, or the lent, for easy vision or l easier to nick out ot a` mass all labels have e red ball. one inch in diai lr ajttacsed to theni than is to scrutinize the l beis `and Aick out all that hsv` Written on them one inch red ball. lf ell the labels :ire strung up on the line one can torni idea at a glance occupying` t irsction oic a. second Whether the proportion those. distinguished by such red ball is large, or small, Whereas, to determine this by readingr all the labels would take a long" time and would absorb an appreciable part ol' the enumerators energv`r leavinga smaller pon tion of time for thinkingh ot what hed be. L be done about it, and also when the residing); is finished, the clerk would not haver s good general idea ott their proportion to the whole The method and apparatus oi? the present invention inekes extensive use ot this prec-V tice. The dilerent :taets end data about the orders7 which it is importent that the actory torce and the management should know are typeivritten on the labels and then are represented by the different kinds of merkers or indicators.A es in s kindergarten, and

the kindergarten principle is valuable in reducingv the mental loe-.d that :i long produe tion list-Which is the .hflirdest kind oit res l ing-constitutes Bf; using this principle the oi the clerks ere lett tree to do the listing Work, reducing the mental effort quired to find out what they are to do troni that requiring al mentality of perhaps litt-een years of age. to that 1found in trein Jfour to sii; years of age. I

For example, to ineke from the entire list oit orde-rs 'that subject list `which has for its subject ell the directk currentniotors. (it the 'factory be an electrical factory.) that on order, one irst picks out all the red balls, and then dictates to e tvpist the Workmans portion of what their lsbels say. and this.r oit course7 is done Withoutdisplacing; 'the labels which are scattered all along the line. from their positions on the line. lf the tect-orv manufactures electrical apparatus.v and it is desired to ineke the subject list ot alternst-ing motors, ell of thezsquflre green blocks are picked ont. lf the subject list is desired of all jobs, regardless ot Whether thej.T are alternatingr or direct or anythingA elsen that should be finished in one Week. the

pendant or indicator such es 835 which is one inch lons7 is picked out. ll' the list is desired ot those that reqnire four Weeks time. the pendant or indicator such es 92, which tour inches long: is picked out.

An importent result accomplished bv the described niethod eno .rstus is in spread intl, out the list so es o cessible plurality ot clerks. lt a c e is Working); on a typewritten list. such cle and probabl'vno one else can rlhe diiierence in this reward iob list illustrated kbv supposingV- the the nianjv pages of ordi `srv tvneivritten list were pasted end to end along line at s coni/'enient height "tor ifeacli'iig,ii'lieie they would entend perhapsY 10.0 feet lt will also bey necessary iosiipnose that the Well is trans- Parent., and that those Aorders which have been turned overto the Shop to Work on were written on the reverse side ot the penv that the clerks reading thein would be on the other side ot the partition.

The apparatus is in sense a clea. g house for information. upon cach` itein ot many, constituting the Whole subject, or is both ay recording place, end e source ot information at -which e nuinber ot recorc rs. and also a. number of ebstrectorsJ` may all Work at the seine time. Since the recorders are thus enabled to act quickly and keep ell entries posted up to the hour. it can al-- Ways be depended upon that theintoiu :rtion9 abstracted `upon demand at env nionient trom time to time, end in uch or it at regular predetermined periodsQ contains the til latest information to make different kinds of information about the itens, so that subject lists of very difieren'. scope may be draf-.vn off. lts provision of data is full. lll of the essential particulars of each job order. say. perhaps a do," n different factors, are uuiori yinclud but when a subject l it Lgood Afor many iist is taken from f, besides limiting it tothe cases of that subject. only such factors concerning` the cases need be entered on the subject iist,las will be useful at the time. For instance. u, list called for sudden perhaps tor use in lliurrying all 100 ll. i. motors, would face only the 100 H. l?. motors, and for cach itcni there need be stated only its order number and it-s title, leaving off all other facto and thereby avoiding encuniliering' the subject list, and of course, sm np; encuniberintg the mind of the person who is to :rake use of it.

lt is obvious that a superintendent@ direction to an assistant to investigate or push a subject is greatly vit'iliaed by bezig accompanied practically irrimedistely by a complete and clean list of all the orders involved, and the assistants efforts are niade much more direct by the receipt of such list, while, by the omission from it of all factors except those with which he is at the .moment concerned, his mind is concentrated upon What he is to do.

The specific method of operating` the apparatus is as follows: The bookkeeping department, which issues new jobs, states the order number, catalogue number, the quantity and name of the article. and other es sential particulars, on typewritten' sheet with double spacing. kThese sheets are sent to the job room, where they are cut up uniformly into long labels or strips, such as 62a, which tit the label-holder 62. The despatch job clerk slips these labels into the label-holders 52, attaches the various 'markers or indicators, such 65, S3, 89, 95. 101 and 109, and hangs the trolleys with their said markers on the line. deflecting them over the despatch rails, 132, 13e, according to whether the orders are to be made from stock or purchased material. When the despatch job clerk is advised later that all the material is in and the order cleared, she unhooks the label-holder 62 from its trolley and turns it around to face the shop side, vtakes it olfy the despatch rail so that it will hang); down straight, and adds'links or niarkers, one for each week of delay so far if eny,'according to the nearest age card up the line. She is then through with her duties and the jobwill be included in her next listings by the sh op job operator. The shop job operator proceeds by a fixed schedule, jobs of a certain kind andfor a` certain chaser are listed Mondays, another kind,

. shop has had the Tuesdays, and so on groups of indicato 1 oi the bead of indicator. fo l the chaserwhose day hlond lifted over one of the shop re' lief@ 130. and she will then dictate to hcl these names. numbers. soc-eds places those with blue 1 arlrers or ini such as 113, 11d. 115, oy those with red markers as 112, over the mich` with plain marker ner rail 128. ln dieiating she dictates first those Von the outer ruil. then those on the middle rail, and then those on the inner rail. thus making` a list in which occur first in the group those in th Orea test hurry. and so on.

For a close checking; of the Shop, it is desirable to distinguish the length of 'time the order, from the gross time since it was written, as shown by the nearest age card. This is accomplished by the dictator hanging a small ring` on it each week when she dictates it, and then stating` in her dictation the number of rings present under the heading shop altre. She also dictates the weeks allowed. or the shop speed, as shown by the length in inches of the speedindicator or block, such as 88 or 92. When the shop reports the order hnished the clerk takes it entirely off the line may place it on a separate line on `the side of the room, where it remains untilthe bookkeepers report it closed out on the books, when it is taken down altogether and the various markers separated or sor-ted into their boxes, like fonts of type. All new orders are, of course, added at the top, or highest end, of the line 50, but since they are taken off as soon as finished, the effect of popping* all along the line is produced. This scattering fire of withdrawal makes the speed of travel of those remaining' greater at the high end than at the low end. riihe study of the graduated speeds is of value in showing` at what age most orders are finished. "When the shop betters its condition, this age becomes less, and vice versa. This is all made a me. ter of record by plotting on a chart a column for each week, and the positions of all of the markers or indicators at the beginning of that week as read from the stationary scale 124.

ln the preferred forni of apparatus the use of the rvariations of length of the heddle is reserved for indicatingspeeds, and the length of everythinl.:` is reserved for expressing how much time it` takes in weeks, one inch per Week, and consequently it is essential that every other .indicator should he ofV uniform the outer rail 30. or indicators. such e rail 129, and those ich as 109. orc the iup length. l'f you know beforehand that four weeks to get. the material, youadd .sixinches to the length. To determine Iif the six WeeksV hasbeen lost in getting themafterial, .itA is alsofair to the shop .to llengthen'out the-indication. The Lwother indicia must'- notiy vary in length vin the preferred formA of the apparatus.

Thereis used one other. special'sign ,that is simi-lar to the number in hundredstttrolleyib and on itthere is a. big card marked fpurchase, clearff. which is =lreptmoved yup the`1 line,

from the lowerA end up against the oldestjob that is., still Waiting for material and as .a-

warning alsoto the purchasing department andthe shop.

As .to .counting ya total number .of 'jobsby measuring on the scale; if'anaccurate-account vis desired for the purpose ofranoicial report, there mustbe allowed-the space taken.

by themarkers 116, 121, becauseeach ytakes This maygbe done bythe-use vof auseparate hand scale, vvhichds va reverse measure ing scale, and `shovvs multiples'of in., ifi that Abe the `dimension .ofeach trolley, and the sum ofthe dimensions of thev markersll,

121 or the like isdeducted from the length of the entire system of-.ma-rkers, las indicated by the scale 124.

It is to `be assumed thatinwthe. preferred form of the invention, each trolleyisslanted" enough to balanceY roller friction.

Should it'vbe desiredto yremove any section ,c

ofthe bar 128, 129, 130, Which/isgcomposed of sections between; adjacent cross-pieces, each section may be-lifted--avvay from .the

Aposts126, due to the fact :that4 thelcrosspieces 127 areprovided With pins 127, which engage the sockets of said posts, as-shovvn lin Fig.- 50,-.-the postsbeing'preferably [formed of metal tubing for that purpose: rlhe re,-

moval of a bar-section may be desirable if an attendant Wishes to clear all .of :the 'heddles from that section atone'tiinennstead of .being required to disengagethe heddles one at a time.

The described methody and apparatus is, of course, susceptible of other thanxfactory use,

andl it :is obvious that themethod Inaybe varied, andthe apparatus andaindic'atorsfor markers bedifferently.constructed, Without departing fromfthelspirit: andi'scope of the invention as .expressed in the claims.l

What :l claimy as nevv `:is y:

1. vApparatus `fonfindicating*andeXpedit1v ing Work, comprislnga suspension line, a-

number of .strings or appendages represent-'.-`

ing different subject matters, and which are assembled on and detachably -engaged-withj the said line, eachstring ,fbeingrbuilt up of a` number of indicators 'detachably connected together successively, iad a, .passage vfor :at:` tendants at, each Isidev ofthe line. of :suspended strings ,or appendages, whereby `;thestrings of indicatorsare rendered readable andfrac.-A

cessible atonevorbothsidesofi the-line, I,d'e-

pending upon Whether `tlie'- i'ridicat'orsofi anyJ givenstring face away from-one sider th'e other'y of the line.l

2.1. Apparatus fory indicating .and expedit- 1ng.work, comprisingy asusp'ens'ion'line, ak

number ofv strings 'or-appendages represent?? ing.- diflz'erentI subject matters, .and vvhyic-ht areassemb-led: on and detachablyf engaged withl the said line, each string being-builtup' offaf number of indicators detachably connected the yline of suspended strings orf appendages; whereby, additional strings of'indicatoisare adapted to be engaged vvith one endo'ftlreI lineas new subject-matters are created,- any of; thefstrings are adaptedto be removed here and there from the line, in fthe natureV of popping off, as thefsubje'ct-ma'tters vvhichthey represent arelcomp-letefd and disposed of," and anyV4 of the strings belonging to A. a" particular class may be ydeflectedTovereithergofsaid lateral means* a'tone vsideaofy the suspendedstrings, to facilitateinaking aflist yofthe'subject-matterslof that class,

While all of thestringsof indicators'retain their relative positions or numerical sequence i onthef-line.V w v 3.y Apparatusffor indicating and exp'edi't;

ing vvorlnscomprisinga linear support, and' a number of :pendent strings `of 'indicato'rs,

arranged onV said-support inf close succession andfdetachable.therefrom, each stringy beingbuilt up of thesamenumberof differentin' togetheri successively, lateral'- means atfeach side of the strings fof indicato-rsoveil which Y any.v desiiedl onesthereof may-be deflected anda passage for attendants at each side' of dicators, each stringv representing a ldifferent subject-matter, andthe indicators forming eachf-stringfbeing readily visible as tothe diflerence'of their meanings 4Q ApparatusL for indicating and expeditingwork, comprising a linear support, andv a number-,of pendent stringsY ofgindi'cato'rs, arranged fon' said support inrclose succession anddetachabletherefrom, and allof the strings "beingfin thrust-contact '.at the ends attached y.toi 'the lineark support,- each" string being builtup ofthe same numberfojf dif` ferent indicators, .each string represent-ing a different Subj ect-matter, and the indicators dicators; each'stringrepresentingia diferentv ..125

Subj ectfmatter, and theA indicators forming each string beingx readily visible asto the difference of their meaning` andY aflalbel af- Xedto eachfstring andLvvhichIbearsall of f the indicators of ksuch string.

6. Apparatus forlindieating and enpediting work, comprising two supports, a supil porting line secured to and between the supe ports, said line` being inclined from the horizontal, a number of pendent strings Qfinx dicators arranged on the line in closesucces-` Sion and detachable therefrom, the inclina-y tion of the line enabling all ofthe strings of indicators to tablishr thrust-contact at theirr attached ends,each string being built up of the'same number of different indicators, each string representing a different subject-matter, and the indicators forming each string being readily visible as to the difference oftlieir meaning. e

7. VApparat-us for indicating and expedit-r ing work, comprising a pair of supports, a supporting-line for indicia on and between said supports, a series of hangers arranged to travel on said line in succession and in contact with each other, and anumber of groups of` co-related but diverse indiciainembers hung on said series vof hangers, each group representingQy-a different subject matter from any other group,.and;all of said indiciamembers facing laterally of the said line.

ing work, comprising' an aerial line, kgroups of co-related but suspended therefrom in succession, the indicia-members all facing-away from one side or the other of the suspended groups, and

several supporting means alongside of the i series of groups of said members, overwhich the free ends of said' groups may bek hung. 'f

9'. Apparatus for indicating and expediting work, comprising an inclined aerial line,`

groups of co-related but diverse indiciainembers suspended therefrom and adapted to travel( thereon in succession, the indiciamembers all facing away from one side or the other of the suspended groups,'and sup# arranged approximately parallel With said-` line, and being graduated in units'of meas` urement 'corresponding with the widthV ofv each group orfa multiple of, said lwidth.

1l. Apparatus for indicating and eXpedit-i` ing work, comprising an inclined, aerial, supporting-line for indicia-members, a

gravitate thereuponv and to es-y ,ing work, comprising of said members,

8. Apparatus for indicating and eiipedit.H

diverse indicia-.members Y strung along said -line with a series series of lhangerstraveling freely on said line, a series of groups of co-related but diverse members supported by said hangers so as to depend from said line, in substan` tially onevertical plane, each group indicating a given subject matter, and each group having the same width as each of the other groups alongsaid'line, in combination with a scaleearrangcd approximatelyparallel with said linebut relatively to the suspended groups of said members, said scale being graduated in units of measurement corresponding with the width of each group.

l2. Apparatus for 4indicating and expeditan inclined, aerial, supporting-line for indicia-members, a series of hangers traveling freely on said line, a series lof groups of cofrleated but diverse members supported by said hangers so as to depend from said line, in substantially one vertical plane, each group ,in'dicatinga given subject matter, and each grouphaving the saine width as each of the other groups I along said line, in combination with a scale arranged approximately' parallel with said line but relatively to the suspended groups said scale being graduated in units of measurement corresponding with the width of each group, and supporting rails approximately parallel with said line and located laterally ofthe plane ofsaid groups, for hanging the free ends of said groups of members 'tliereoven 13. Apparatus for indicating and expediting work, comprising ainedian support, lateral supports below and to each side of it, andYindicator-appeiidages strung alongsaid median support so as to all face away from said median support for quick readability, and adapted to be. trained over said lateral supports to one side or the other of said median support.

14. Apparatus for indicating and expediti ing work, comprising a median support, lateral supports, and indicator-appendages strung' along said inediansupport in contrained over said lateral supports to one side or the other of .said median support.

15. Apparatus for indicating and eXpediting work, comprisinga median support, lateral supports, and indicator-appendages median support rand adapted to be trained overy said'lateral supports to one side or the other of said median support, each of :said appendages comprising a group of mutuallyfen'gaged and de-- tacliable indi,cia-members, and all offsaid appendages having different characteristics.

16. Apparatus for indicatingand expedit-4 ing, worlcom'prising asuspended trolleywhich are removable laterally therefrom,

ofltrolleys thereon, and

and indicator-appendages carried by said trolleys, said line being slanted enough to balance the friction of the trolleys.

17. Apparatus for indicating and expediting Work, comprising a trolley-line, trolleys thereon, said trolleys being removable laterally therefrom, and indicator-appendages carried by said trolleys, each trolley having thrust faces parallel With each other and with t-he thrust faces of the other trolleys.

18. Apparatus for indicating and expediting Work, comprising a trolley-line, trolleys thereon, said trolleys being Vremovable laterally therefrom, and indicator-appendages carried by said trolleys, each trolley hav ing the same dimension longitudinally'of said line as each of the other trolleys, the frames of a-ll of said trolleys having contacting thrust-faces.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a line, means for exhibiting diiferent subject matters thereon and comprising for each subject matter a group .of different indicia-members, means for lengthening cach group for one purpose, the lengths of corresponding indicia-members of the different. groups being otherwise the same, indicator-sliders and collars for the groups, said means for exhibiting being shiftable along said line.

20.1n apparatus of the character described, a line, means for cXhibiting different subject matters thereon and comprising for` each subject matter a group of different indicia-members, means for lengthening each group for one purpose, the lengths of corresponding indicia-members of the different groups being otherwise the same, indicator-sliders and collars for the groups, lsaid means for exhibiting being 'shiftable along said line, and means for delecting any number of said groups laterally.

21. Apparatus for indicating and expediting Work, comprising a supporting Way, a

series of trolleys thereon and which are of exactly equal length along the Way, indicia-- members suspended by said trolleys, and a scale Which is scaled to the unit of measurement of the said trolleys.

22. Apparatus for indicating and expediting work, comprising a supporting Way, a series of abutting trolleys thereon and having their abutting faces at each end squared in the direction of travel on said way, whereby there is prevented the buckling or jamming of a long row of the trolleys when pushed or slid along said Way, and indiciaanembers suspended by said trolleys.

23. Apparatus for indicating and expediting Work, comprising a supporting Wl'ay, a series of label holders of approximately the same Widths and having mleans yfor suspending them in vertical position from said Way, labels held by the holders and noting certain facts, and indicia-members suspended from said label holders to visually and physically represent such noted facts. j

24. Apparatus for indicating and expediting Work, comprising a supporting Way, a series of trolleys on said Way, labeled groups of indicia-members, and means for detachably connecting each labeled group with its own trolley and for enabling each group to be faced toward either side of the Way without. disturbing its trolley.

25. Apparatus for expediting and indi-. eating Work, comprising a linear support, trolleys thereon, successive groups of tangible, diverse, indicia-members assembled and suspended from said trolleys, other trolleys with markers for every one hundred of said groups, date trolleys which retain their relative positions on the line While traveling and indicate the number of Weeks of elapsed time, or the age, and Which are shiftable up the line one Week, at the end of each Week.

s SCHUYLER S. WHEELER. 

